Sermon Series - The Holy Spirit 1, Laying the Foundation

Laying the Foundation of the Holy Spirit, Part 1 - Soar With The Spirit

Scripture lesson: Romans 8:5-16

Key verse: Ephesians 5:18 Be filled with the Spirit.

· S – Seek God

“Lord, what’s your plan for today?”
Your answer comes from the Holy Spirit
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. - Romans 8:14

· O – Offer yourself

“Okay, Lord, if you help me I’ll do it.”
Your willingness comes from the Holy Spirit
God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him. - Philippians 2:13

· A – Act in faith

“Lord, I know you’re with me, so here I go!”
Your power comes from the Holy Spirit
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. - Acts 1:8

· R – Repeat

“Okay, Lord, what’s next?”
Your faithfulness comes from the Holy Spirit
The fruit of the Spirit is . . . faithfulness . . . - Galatians 5:22

Laying the Foundation of the Holy Spirit, Part 2 - Get To Know The Holy Spirit 

Get to Know the Holy Spirit

Scripture lesson: John 14:15-26

Key verse: John 14:17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

· The Holy Spirit is God

He was at creation (Genesis 1:2
Peter calls him “God” (Acts 5:3-4)
He is the source of supernatural power (Luke 3:14; Acts 1:8)

· The Holy Spirit is a person

The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of God
The Holy Spirit acts as a person

He speaks (Acts 8:29)
He teaches (John 14:26)
He reminds (John 14:26)
He inspires (Mark 12:36)
He convinces (John 16:8)
He leads (Romans 8:14)
He helps (2 Timothy 1:14)
He prays (Romans 8:26)

Jesus called him a paraclete – Greek for “one called alongside to help” (John 14:16). Meanings include:

· Comforter

· Counselor

· Encourager

· Advocate

· Helper

The Holy Spirit responds as a person

He can rejoice (Luke 10:21)
He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30)
He can be disrespected (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

· Get to know the Holy Spirit

Talk to him (Ephesians 6:18)
Listen to him (Revelations 2:7)
Follow him (Romans 8:14)
Continually fill yourself up with him (Ephesians 5:18; 1 Corinthians 12:13)

Laying the Foundation of the Holy Spirit, Part 3 - I Will Pour Out My Spirit

I Will Pour Out My Spirit

Scripture lesson: Joel 2:23-32

Key verse: Joel 2:28 I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions.

Before Pentecost only certain people had the Holy Spirit
Since Pentecost the Holy Spirit is available to everyone
God freely pours out his Holy Spirit as a gift of grace
It is up to you to receive and respond to the Holy Spirit

1. Seek the Holy Spirit

2. Receive the Holy Spirit

3. Trust the Holy Spirit

4. Open yourself to the Holy Spirit

5. Learn to hear the Holy Spirit

6. Follow the Holy Spirit

7. SOAR with the Holy Spirit

Laying the Foundation of the Holy Spirit, Part 4 - How Did Jesus Do It? 

How Did Jesus Do It?

Scripture lesson: Luke 3:1-3, 15-16, 21-22; Luke 4:1-2, 14

Key verse: Acts 10:38 God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him.

Four characteristics of Jesus’ time on earth

1. Spirit-filled character

2. Spirit-led wisdom

3. Spirit-powered action

4. Spirit-moved equipping

Laying the Foundation of the Holy Spirit, Part 5 - Carrying God's Presence in Love and Power

Carrying God’s Presence in Love and Power

Scripture lesson: 1 Corinthians 12:1-18 and 27-31

Key verse: 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

Ten things to know about spiritual gifts:

1. God wants us to know and use the gifts he gave us (verse 1)

2. Don’t be deceived: if something doesn’t honor Jesus, it’s not from the Holy Spirit of God (verses 2-3)

3. The persons of the Trinity give different kinds of gifts (verses 4-6)

4. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are for each person to use for the common good (verse 7)

5. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are temporary, supernatural ways God uses us to extend God’s power and love to those in need (verses 8-10)

6. We are urged to seek specific gifts but the Holy Spirit decides how they are distributed (verse 11)

7. God designed our different gifts to work together and complement each other in unity (verses 12-18 and 27)

8. None of these gifts is universal (verses 28-30)

9. God wants us to desire and work toward the gifts that do the most good for the most people (verse 31)

10. Being familiar with the gifts is important, but even more important is using them in love (verse 31)

Laying the Foundation of the Holy Spirit, Part 6 - The Promise is For You - Pentecost!

The Promise Is for You

Scripture lesson: Acts 1:1-9, and Acts 2:1-7, 13-18 and 37-42

Key verse: Acts 2:39 The promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.

Do you want everything God has for you? Or will you let fear make you settle for less?

· What God has for you if you allow Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit

o Freedom

Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. – 2 Corinthians 3:17

o Righteousness, peace and joy

The kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. – Romans 14:17

o Power

You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses. – Acts 1:8

· Ways the devil tries to scare you into settling for less than God’s best for you

o Fear of losing control – “I’m afraid God will make me do something I don’t want to do.”

o Fear of rejection by people – “I’m afraid people will think I’m a fanatic.”

o Fear of rejection by God – “I’m afraid it won’t work for me.”

o God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control. – 2 Timothy 1:7

Do you want everything God has for you? Or will you let fear make you settle for less?

Sermon Series - 2011

The Holy Spirit 1 - Laying The Foundation of the Holy Spirit